Bookies Bar & Grille: User Reviews

I have eaten at Bookies, both as a solo diner and with friends at both lunch and dinner at least 6 times over the last 9 months and although I find the food to be average or above, I have often felt like the food is almost an afterthought..."OK! lets serve some food, too!" may have been thrown out while brainstorming during the design phase..."Yeah, thats kewl!" everyone agreed.

On a recent Friday night the place was lively and understaffed...1 waitperson on the main floor with a gradually filling room of happy bar customers. We ordered dinner that included appitizer, salad, and entrees. I can't understand the reason for not having salt/pepper sugar etc on the tables, but so be it. It only makes more work for the waitperson. Food, overall decent, if slightly cool due to the obvious wait at the kitchen for pickup---but the clincher of the evening was when, at 6:10 pm our entrees were served the waitperson informed us she was leaving and dropped the checque on the table indicating it was time to cash out. Now, we had a tab of 55.00/party of 2---a respectable amount by anyones standards in this market for that type of restaurant. I normally would have questioned this and asked for a manager, however, since the food was still above warm and the prospect of dealing with someone else would only have resulted in colder food, we settled the check and finished eating.

TIP for management,,,you ended the evening at that point...with dirty dishies, no sign of a busperson, coffee, desert, and drinks were off the ticket...easily 20.00 more on the tab.

I did call the restaurant the following Monday, not so much to complain, as I do like the place, but to encourage a bit more professionalism on the part of the floor staff...after asking to speak to management (off peak lunch time) I gave up after 10 minutes on hold.

Will I go back?...probably...but on Monday-Wednesday when its guarenteed to be slower...based on a drive by to check the potential crowd size first.

Food 4, service 2, management awarness 0

Report This Review

Only a Stone's throw away from Comerica & Ford Field, the New Bookies Bar & Grille has a terrific layout that is welcoming to all crowds. The place is able to host a wide variety of events from a simple lunch, to private corporate parties. Not to mention the beautiful party deck that overlooks the City of Detroit and a mouthwatering menu selection. Bookies is the place to be!!

Report This Review

Unfortunately, the wings lost but we still had a great time. It was about my third or fourth time going there, and each time has been a blast. I think it's the best sports bar in the city. What makes it really nice is its not commercialized or owned by some "detroit celebraty" that's never there. Each time I've been there the owner has talked with us for a lenthy period of time...something you don't see at Hockeytown or Cheli's. They have a lot of TV's and the biggest projection screen I think I've ever seen. They also just did a menu adjustment. I had their new build your own burger. You fill out a slip of all the toppings and they make it to order. I loved it. Can't wait to go back!

Report This Review

I had a great time there yesterday. Hung out with the owner for a bit. He bought us all a round of shots out on their roof top deck. He was telling some really funny stories about the other weekend. We were on the floor laughing. We ordered wings and the nachos for the table. Food was pretty good. It was definitely a refreshing change for a downtown bar. Can't wait to go back!!!

Report This Review

My wife and I normally go to Hockeytown before a game, but stopped into Bookies. My wife doesn't drink so we tend to be hesitant going into bars, however we love a good meal before a game. The staff was good and the food was better. I think they might have had the best fries ever. We are definitely going to work this into our rotation. Go TIgers! - Bill

Report This Review

My boyfriend dragged me to this bar before the NY vs. Detroit baseball game last night. I had heard of the old Bookies, but never went. I must say I was absolutely blown away. It was the coolest place that I have ever been to downtown. It was clean, fun, and our server (can't remember her name) was fantastic. They had a pitcher and shot special that made us miss half the game. I can't wait until it's warmer so we can hang out on the deck. Once I shake my hangover, I'm going back!

Report This Review